Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

28 reviews

nicolaparty's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gun violence

Moderate: Alcohol

micaelamariem's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a phenomenal read.
I’ve always been a fan of the sentimental so this book struck a chord with me. It evokes all the feelings, from laughter to tears. While the book is about a bank robbery gone wrong, it’s really about the people involved in this hostage scene and about people in general. Looking into each person’s mind and heart, Backman makes a point on how messy life is and how idiotic we all can be, and calls us as readers to have empathy for our fellow humans. 
I also enjoyed the drama of it all, though. For two thirds of the book I really wasn’t sure who the bank robber was and if they’d catch them or what was going to happen. I liked the plot twists told through a nonlinear timeline that kept me reading beyond the sentimental parts and the idiotic humorous parts. 
Overall, a fantastic beautiful read and a reminder that we’re all going through something, but it gets a little better if we have each other’s backs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Infidelity, Classism, Blood, and Pregnancy

kromany's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief and Confinement

Minor: Gun violence and Pregnancy

sarahbethhh's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Loved the framing of this story and the cast of characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Confinement, and Infidelity

chasingpages1's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death, Confinement, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying

Minor: Alcoholism, Classism, Dementia, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, Addiction, and Blood

lizziaha's review against another edition

funny

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

Backman has such a talent for packing hard-hitting truths between absolute hilarity and the most depressing shit you’ve ever read and with all those smushed together, somehow spin it all to be a hopeful story. I just wish that the bank robber’s character had been developed a bit more. Compared to the hostages and the police, I felt like I knew less about the bank robber. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Gun violence

Minor: Dementia, Pregnancy, War, Cancer, Xenophobia, and Child abuse

katstu1's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Self harm, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Cancer, Confinement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, and Suicide attempt

manu_k's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

So hilariously insightful, I didn't know what to do with myself after I finished it. Without a doubt, the best book I've read so far this year. Do be warned, it tends to get heavy in the middle, which is the reason it took me 3 months to complete (plus exams, but who cares about those, right?). 

It keeps its pacing all throughout the book, and even when we get to the heavy parts, Backman keeps it light with a well-timed sarcastic comment or incongruous joke. The story flows well, and the smooth change in point of views compliments the non-linear storytelling. The writing is beautiful and the way the story comes together at the end is inspired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Alcoholism

Minor: Violence, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Blood, Pregnancy, Grief, Confinement, and Cancer

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this. Like. God damn what a fun read. I loved the audiobook, and I can't wait to read it again. I'm a bit afraid to watch the Netflix version because this would take a really special director to pull off. Definitely will be looking more into this author. Wow I wish I could write like this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Suicide, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Classism, Death, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, and Gun violence

boba_n_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve never read a book like this and am absolutely blown away. All at once this is a book about nothing but also about everything. The author captures the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. This novel shows the reader about the importance of empathy and understanding. We never know what we would do in someone else’s situation, and sometimes we have to bend the rules to give someone a second chance. Because that’s what all of us deserve. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Suicide

Moderate: Confinement